Sunday, August 31, 2014

#177 August 31, 2014- Happy Labor Day!!

Different
Versions,

Same
Reality. . .

Reality
and truth are too often portrayed as absolutes based in either common sense or
a shared perception of ideas, actions or events.Yet, we know that different people can
experience the same thing and come away with very different perceptions of what
occurred.These differences in
"reality" result not only in different interpretations of the
"truth" but also create different visions for our future as we move
forward from our present circumstances.It is also true that our own ideologies and biases cause us to define
words and concepts differently.In a
nation as diverse as America
the inability to agree on a common version of our past, a common interpretation
of our current situation and a common vision for the future is often
problematic.This isn't to imply that
there are no moral absolutes, or that we are free to act in any way that we
choose, but rather a recognition that (within certain parameters) there can be
different interpretations of things, and that even if our perceptions are
significantly skewed they still influence our reactions and actions.

Make
no mistake about it, diversity of thought and opinion offer significant
potential as well.After all, without
divergent thinking we will find ourselves continuing on the same pathways, and
ending up with the same results over and over.The idea that we can be condemned to repeat our past mistakes, or that
we should expect different results from the same thoughts and actions cause us
to question our ability to improve our future.We need to have alternative viewpoints and hear the opinions of those
who would cause us to question our own version of "reality" if we are
to make any progress as individuals or as a society.

This
tension between the safety in consistency in beliefs and the challenge of
diversity in thinking creates a number of different emotional states for
people.For some of us, the tension is
an opportunity for growth that creates a feeling of hope.For others, it is a source of fear and
anxiety that causes hatred and resentment towards those who challenge or
threaten our viewpoints.Which of these
reactions we have is based on many different things and can be different for individuals
and groups.Among the most important
factors that influence our reactions to challenge and change are our own
stability and sense of security, our ability to accept uncertainty, and the
guidance, leadership and support that exist around us.

An
example of the effects that multiple "truths" can have is clearly
demonstrated in the current climate around public education.The majority of us would agree that education
is important to individuals and to society as a whole.We can agree that all of our citizens should
receive some formalized education and that it should be of the highest quality
possible.

Residence halls are being prepped, school supplies are
flying off the shelves, and the sports season has already started. As local
K-12 and college students get ready for classes, which

lacrossetribune.com|By Lee
Enterprises

Yet,
from the very beginning of the discussion we see terms and concepts defined
differently, resulting in a wide variety of policies, goals and
objectives.Should our educational
system strive to be a "melting pot" and create a uniform vision of
citizenship?Should it be a training
ground for future employees and focus on "practical" skills?Should it be a place where a variety of
options are offered and critical thinking is developed and encouraged?Should education fill multiple roles?Should we have a public vision of education
that is supported by our society?

Here
in America
we have chosen to answer these questions in a variety of ways, but a majority
of our students receive their K-12 educations in public school settings.While I am of the opinion that this system is
the best one for a democratic society, there are challenges associated with trying
to define and provide a quality education for millions of students who come
from diverse backgrounds and experiences.This tension has been a source of positive growth, but also has resulted
in a system that fails to fulfill its vast promise in many ways.

Our
current dialog about public schools is one that is filled with rhetoric,
misleading statements and inconsistencies.Current Conservative leadership (and unfortunately many leaders from
other ideological viewpoints as well) has cast a shadow of doubt over our
public education system and distorted the public's view of what is happening to
our students and educators in our nation's public schools.The result is a collection of misperceptions,
inconsistencies and outright fallacies that make the already difficult job of
educating students that much more challenging.

There
is a perception that our public schools cost too much and that too many
resources are being funneled into our public education system.Ask anyone who works in a school and they
will tell you that there is a need for more resources and more financial
support for our schools.

» Fewer teachers, more poverty mean challenges for kids in Wisconsin’s public
schools | Research and...

wisconsinsfuture.org

The dialog around our
professional public educators has become extremely negative in recent
years.This, combined with cuts to take
home pay, loss of collective bargaining agreements and a general reduction in
support for educators has decayed morale in our public schools.

Imagine if you had to spend hundreds of dollars of your own
money just to get...

newyork.cbslocal.com

We are subjecting our
students to more and more assessment and more standardization of curriculum as
we seek to hold our school systems more "accountable."This effort to increase accountability and to
make our schools more "rigorous" has changed the pedagogical
landscape and reduced opportunities for many students to experience the arts,
extracurricular activities and even cut into science and social studies
instruction.

A new study out of USC and the University of Pennsylvania
finds that...

latimes.com|By Los Angeles Times

It should come as no
surprise that it is our most at-risk students and those from groups that have
been historically under-served by our public education systems who suffer the
most.We cut supports, increase academic
"rigor" and still expect more from our students, educators and
schools.Students, educators and those
who actively support our public schools may recognize the need for these
services and supports, but our political leaders and policy makers too often
fail to support these needs with resources or their words.

Not all students have the same access to advanced courses
and electives, which could be a symptom of gaps in achievement.

m.host.madison.com|By Lee Enterprises

The
Good, The Bad and

The
Ugly. . .

The Good . . . Wisconsinites have a chance to make a strong social, political and
economic statement this November.Our
gubernatorial race has implications that go far beyond the borders of Wisconsin.It is a race that is winnable, but we need to
make sure that we get the vote out and keep the focus on issues that
matter.

A fresh batch of emails emerged Friday night that shows
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was deeply involved in raising money for an
ostensibly independent group focused on fending off the recall.They came in a
court filing from a special...